Abstract: In this study, the morphology and leaf anatomical structure of 12 kinds of ancient tea plants including 60 germplasms were identified and analyzed. On this base, a dendrogram of these ancient tea plants was established and genetic relationship among them was analyzed, which would provide morphological and cytological evidences for lucubrating their origination and evolution, as well as accelerating their development and utilization. The results indicated that, 12 kinds of gemplasms were clustered into two main groups and four subclasses. Group Ⅰ consisted of one wild type (Benshan) and three semi-wild types (Heitiaozi, Ergazi and Dayebenshanbaiyakou), which were tall arbors or semi-arbors with absent or sparse young shoot pubescences, large leaves, thicker cuticles, one lay of palisade cells and many bulky sclereids. Four cultivated types (Menkudaye, Menkuxiaoye, Baiyazi and Doumie) belonged to group Ⅱ-a, which were semi-arbors or shrubs with denser young shoot pubescences, one to two layers of palisade cells, as well as few small sclereids. Three semi-wild types (Liuye, Heqing and Tengzi) were classed into group Ⅱ-b, which were horizontal spreading shrubs with medium young shoot pubescences, medium leaves, one to two layers of palisade cells and few small sclereids. Group Ⅱ-c had only one member, Hongya, which was semi-wild shrub with bright reddish violet young shoots, large leaves, and diversifying sclereidsin morphologyand size.